Beijing has set a population cap of 1.3 million by 2035 for Tongzhou District, its municipal subsidiary administrative center. The move is expected to ease pressure off the capital's infrastructure and achieve more balanced development. Wang Qiwei has more. 

Embracing its new role as a second center. Tongzhou District is the proposed solution to the problem of an overpopulated Chinese capital, with over 21 million residents. Situated 40 minutes away from the heart of Beijing, the district will receive at least 400-thousand more residents by 2035. That is according to the latest draft of the planning document.

SHI WEILIANG CHIEF PLANNER, BEIJING MUNICIPAL COMMISSION OF URBAN PLANNING "Through the construction of the sub-center, we can relieve and undertake the population and pressure of the central city, to ensure the capital functions effectively."

The document sets a population cap of 1.3 million for Tongzhou District by 2035. The area of urban construction land will also be limited to around 100 square kilometers. At the same time, efforts are being made to improve the utilization of industrial land, as production space in the city will be cut to balance urban construction and nature.

SHI WEILIANG CHIEF PLANNER, BEIJING MUNICIPAL COMMISSION OF URBAN PLANNING "A refined urban design to highlight architectural features, the ecological environment and public space control can allow people to have a sense of gain and happiness."

Tongzhou was created to help address some of Beijing's "urban ills", such as traffic congestion and air pollution. Problems like this have already prompted the government to cap urban growth levels, even encouraging people to move into cities from the countryside. Municipal government agencies have been moving their offices out of the Beijing downtown area to Tongzhou since the end of 2017. The residency permit system will also be adjusted in an attempt to cap population levels as well.